Spur type Red Rome apple tree--Peach Valley cultivar

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct apple variety which originated as a limb mutation of the Law cultivar of the Red Rome apple tree (i.e. U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,550) is provided. This new apple variety possesses a vigorous compact growth habit and can be distinguished from its standard sized parent and all other spur type Red Rome apple varieties. More specifically, the new variety possesses more fruiting spurs per linear foot on one, two, and three year old wood than both its parent and the spur type Red Rome apple tree of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,096 which also was originated by me. Additionally, the fruit of the new variety is a deeper, more intense and complete red which accumulates earlier than that of the Taylor cultivar of the Red Rome apple tree (i.e. U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,121) and the Red Rome apple tree of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,198.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety first came to my attention during December,1976 while growing as a limb mutation in the cultivated Peace ValleyOrchards (Dan Simmons farm) at Rogers, Ohio 44455. More specifically,the limb mutation was discovered on a six year old tree of the LawCultivar of Red Rome apple growing on MM-106 rootstock in Block No. 3 ofsuch orchards. The parent tree had been originally obtained from theStark Brothers Nurseries & Orchards Company.

I was originally attracted to the limb mutation by its vigorous compactgrowth habit whereby heavy quantities of spurs are present. Continuedobservation and testing over a number of years has indicated that thisdiscovery is in fact a new and distinct variety which differs from allpreviously known Red Rome apple varieties of which I am aware.

The new variety of apple tree possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) a vigorous compact growth habit,

(b) large deep green leaves,

(c) the ability to bear fruit which is a deeper more intense red coloraccumulated earlier than that of the Taylor cultivar of Red Rome appletree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,121) and the Red Rome apple tree of U.S.Plant Pat. No. 3,198,

(d) the ability to form substantially more fruiting spurs on one yearold shoots than the Red Rome apple of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,096, and

(e) the ability to form more fruiting spurs on two and three year oldwood than the Red Rome apple of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,096.

More specifically, it has been found that the Red Rome apple tree ofU.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,096 forms few if any fruiting spurs on one yearold shoots. On the contrary the present variety forms many fruitingspurs on such one year old shoots. Accordingly, the present variety isexpected to begin fruit production at an earlier age if goodhorticultural practices are followed.

Also, the characteristics of two and three year old wood of the newvariety were compared in detail with those of the Red Rome apple tree ofU.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,096 while growing at Rogers, Ohio. On such twoyear old wood it was found that the distance between fruiting spurs forthe new variety averaged approximately 6.2 inches while the distance forthe Red Rome apple tree of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,096 averagedapproximately 8.2 inches. The three year old wood of the present varietypossessed a substantial number of fruiting spurs while the Red Romeapple tree of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,096 commonly possessed barren areas,sometimes referred to as blindwood.

The fruit of the new variety is substantially identical in size, shape,and color to that of the law Cultivar of Red Rome apple tree (i.e. U.S.Plant Pat. No. 1,550) and the Red Rome apple tree of U.S. Plant Pat. No.4,096. Additionally, the blossom dates and appearance are substantiallyidentical to those of the Law Cultivar of Red Rome apple tree and theRed Rome apple tree of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,096. The dates of first andlast fruit pickings are substantially identical to those of the LawCultivar of Red Rome apple tree.

Asexual propagation at Rogers, Ohio over a number of years now hasdemonstrated that the unique combination of characteristics of this newvariety comes true to form and is established and transmitted throughsucceeding propagations.

All specimens described herein were grown and observed at Rogers, Ohio.

The new variety has been named the Peace Valley cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The photographs were obtained during October, 1979 at Rogers, Ohio, andare presented in color as true as reasonably possible in an illustrationof this character.

FIG. 1 shows typical specimens of the fruit and foliage of the newvariety.

FIG. 2 shows a typical defoliated shoot of one and two year old wood ofthe new variety which illustrates the numerous presence of fruitingspurs.

FIG. 3 shows a typical defoliated shoot of one and two year old wood ofthe Red Rome apple tree of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,096 wherein spurs aresubstantially absent on one year old wood and relatively long sideshoots are present on two year old wood together with less numerousfruiting spurs.

FIG. 4 shows a typical defoliated shoot of one and two year old wood ofthe Law Cultivar of Red Rome apple tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,550)wherein fruiting spurs are substantially absent on one year old wood andare substantially less numerous on two year old wood. Relatively longside shoots have been cut back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of my new variety where colorterminology is to be accorded its ordinary dictionary significanceexcept where otherwise indicated. The specimens described were grown atRogers, Ohio.

Dates of first and last pickings -- October 10 and 15 in Ohio; the fruitcommonly ripens at the same time as the Law Cultivar of Red Rome appletree.

Tree: Small; vigorous; slightly drooping but compact; dense;round-topped; slow growing; hardy; very productive; regular bearing.

Trunk.--Smooth; grey.

Lenticels.--Few to medium.

Leaves.--Medium long; ovate; taper-pointed; length -- approximately 3 to33/4 inches; width -- approximately 11/4 to 2 inches.

Petiole.--Length -- approximately 11/4 to 11/2 inches; medium; slender.

Flowers: Date of first bloom -- May 15, 1978; date of full bloom -- May18, 1978; white; substantially identical to those of the Law Cultivar ofRed Rome apple tree and the Red Rome apple tree of U.S. Plant Pat. No.4,096.

Fruit: Maturity when eating ripe -- approximately October 15.

Size.--Uniform-variable; axial diameter -- approximately 25/8 to 3inches; globose-oblate.

Cavity.--Symmetrical; flaring toward apex; even; pubescent toward apex;depth -- approximately 5/16 inch; breadth -- approximately 11/8 inch.

Basin.--Symmetrical; rounded; pubescent; depth -- approximately 11/4inch; breadth -- approximately 3/4 to 1 inch; markings -- none.

Stem.--Medium; length -- approximately 3/4 inch; breadth --approximately 1/8 inch.

Color.--Greenish red.

Calyx.--Open; decidious; narrowly lanceolate; acute; ascending;converged from base toward center; length -- approximately 2/16 inch.

Eye.--Medium; partially closed.

Skin.--Thick; tough; rough; glossy; waxed; even to raised. Color of dots-- white. Distribution of dots -- plentiful; mottled; blushed. Groundcolor -- Bright Carmine Plate 1 -- Color No. 1 Tone i of Ridgeway ColorStandards and Nomenclature. Bloom -- moderate; white. General coloreffect -- 100 percent red at maturity.

Flesh.--Rather juicy. Color -- Satiny white with greenish tint. Texture-- firm; fine and crisp. Flavor -- mild.

Core.--Medium; distant in cross section. Bundle area (longitudinalsection) -- medium size; cordate; symmetrical; acute at base. Alternatebundle -- core lines just clasping. Calyx tube -- pubescent toward base;broadly obconic; entire depth -- approximatey 5/16 inch. Styles --present; fleshy at base; united toward base; pubescent; glabrous towardbase at apex. Stamens -- in distinct whorl. Auxiliary cavity -- present.Seed cells -- axile; open; cell walls -- distant; thick; tough; length-- approximately 3/4 inch; breadth -- approximately 3/8 inch;longitudinal section -- semi-orbicular; marginate; surface -- fissured;smooth; cross section -- broad.

Seeds.--Number perfect -- 8; number imperfect -- 1. Number in one cell-- 2; length -- approximately 3/8 inch. Breadth -- approximately 3/16inch. Form -- acute. Color -- Sorghum Brown Plate XXXIX -- Color 9" Tonei of Ridgeway Color Standards and Nomenclature.

Use: Market; dessert; culinary.

Keeping quality: Good -- number of days in ordinary storage -- 120 days.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree substantially asillustrated and described characterized by (a) a vigorous compact growthhabit, (b) large deep green leaves, (c) the ability to bear fruit whichis a deeper more intense red color accumulated earlier than that of theTaylor cultivar of Red Rome apple tree described in U.S. Plant Pat. No.3,121 and the Red Rome apple tree described in U.S. Plant Pat. No.3,198, (d) the ability to form substantially more fruiting spurs on oneyear old shoots than the Red Rome apple tree described in U.S. PlantPat. No. 4,096, and (e) the ability to form more fruiting spurs on twoand three year old wood than the Red Rome apple tree described in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 4,096.